A Mount Vernon, SD, man showed no emotion during court when he was sentenced Tuesday to five years in prison for stealing $400,000 from a local farming family according to a report at The Daily Republic.
Merle Northrup, 48, was employed by farmers David and Scott Estabrook in the Mount Vernon area. Between 2012 and 2016, Northrup transported and sold several loads of corn and soybeans to Cenex Harvest States (CHS) and POET Biorefining plants in the area. He sold the grain under his own name, received payment and did not give any of the money to the Estabrooks.
In total, Northrup took $411,220.68. Judge Chris Giles sentenced Northrup to 15 years in prison but suspended 10 years on the condition he repay the full amount, repay court appointed attorney fees and court costs.
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